A heavy rain warning has been issued for the West Coast as a slow-moving front tracks over the central South Island heading into the Easter long weekend.
MetService issued an orange-level heavy rain warning for the ranges of the Westland District north of the Haast River, for 25 hours from 11pm Friday.
The forecaster said between 180mm to 240mm of rain could be expected at peak rates of 20 to 30 mm/h throughout Saturday morning and afternoon, with the possibility of an extension into Sunday.
"Clear your drains and gutters to prepare for heavy rain. Avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously," the forecaster said.
A yellow-level heavy rain watch was also issued for the headwaters of the Canterbury Lakes and rivers south of about Arthur's Pass, for a period of 22 hours from 2am Saturday.
Speaking to Breakfast on Thursday, MetService meteorologist Heather Keats said the South Island would bear the brunt of the bad weather over the long weekend.
"We've got a couple of new fronts coming up the southwest of the South Island," Keats said.
"It's that classic behaviour, they move up over Fiordland, they travel up the West Coast.
"So Saturday and Sunday, not great for any outside Easter egg hunts, unless you don't mind soggy chocolate."
Elsewhere, much of the country could expect more settled conditions to start the long weekend.
Across the upper North Island, including Auckland and Northland, there would be cloudy periods and isolated showers followed by fine spells during Friday afternoon.
Central and lower North Island regions were forecast to be mostly fine, with areas of morning cloud or fog and odd showers about higher ground.
Further south, eastern areas such as Canterbury and Otago were expected to remain mostly fine throughout Friday, with some patchy morning fog and high cloud.
On the West Coast, cloud and showers would spread north throughout the day, turning into possible heavy rain in the evening.
Looking ahead to the rest of the Easter weekend, MetService said partial cloud and isolated showers could be expected for most of the North Island on Saturday.
Heavy rain was expected to continue for the western and southern parts of the South Island throughout Saturday, easing into Sunday.
Cloud and partial showers were expected across most areas on Monday, with rain forecast for Northland later in the day.
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